/ mɔːˈfɒlədʒi; NAmE mɔːrˈfɑːl-/ noun [ U ]
1.
( biology ) the form and structure of animals and plants, studied as a science
2.
( linguistics ) the forms of words, studied as a branch of linguistics
—compare grammar , syntax
► mor·pho·logic·al / ˌmɔːfəˈlɒdʒɪkl; NAmE ˌmɔːrfəˈlɑːdʒ-/ adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 19th cent.: from Greek morphē form + -logy (see -ology ).